Muller, Fedak Beat Rain at WTA Budapest

Posted on July 25, 2006

BUDAPEST, Hungary -- Former Budapest Grand Prix champion Martina Muller managed to close out her match against Nathalie Vierin before heavy rainstorms washed out the remaining matches in the Hungarian capital. The German eliminated Vierin, 61 62, to enter the second round of the Tier IV event.

Muller will next play either No.7 seed Martina Sucha or Jarmila Gajdosova. The 23-year-old posted the highlight of her career on these red clay courts. In 2002, she survived a trio of three-setters, won her semifinal in straight sets and toughed out another long battle against Myriam Casanova in the final. Earlier this year, she upset top seed Patty Schnyder en route to the Strasbourg quarterfinals to notch her first victory over a Top 10 player.

Yuliana Fedak also completed her match on Monday and cruised to the second round with a 62 60 upset victory over No.6 seed Julia Schruff. Fedak will next face either qualifier Sara Errani or wild card Agnes Szavay. The unseeded Ukrainian won her fourth and fifth career ITF Circuit singles titles in April and reached her first Grand Slam doubles semifinal at Wimbledon.

Eva Birnerova, Errani, Alisa Kleybanova and Lucie Hrdecka won their qualifying matches on Monday to save a spot in the main draw. Tuesday's schedule features 18 matches on four courts. No.1 seed Catalina Castaill play Kyra Nagy, No.3 Klara Koukalova will take on Birnerova and No.4 Iveta Benesova will continue her match with Katerina Bohmova.-- WTA